Manchester horticulture sector seeks state backing after hurricane losses

The Manchester Horticultural Society is pressing for greater government assistance as the parish’s plant and flower sector tries to recover from damage caused by two recent hurricanes. Society president Charmaine Palmer Cross made the appeal on Monday during the organisation’s annual flower show, staged under the theme “Nature Restored.”

The event was presented as a sign of renewal for horticulture in Manchester after Hurricanes Beryl and Melissa affected gardens, growers and vendors. Palmer Cross said the industry, though linked to the agriculture ministry, has largely had to rebuild on its own.

She described horticulture as a multi-million-dollar sector, pointing to the money Jamaicans spend importing plants for beautification. She also linked the trade to tourism, saying hotel gardens depend on plants produced through horticulture.

Plant vendors from across Jamaica supported the show. Palmer Cross said the field has helped many people turn personal hobbies into income-generating ventures while adding to Manchester’s local economy.

One participant said that after six years of treating plants as a hobby business, Zendish Gardens has now been formally registered as a succulent and cacti enterprise offering gift arrangements, succulent landscaping and other plant-based services.

A regular visitor to the show said she attends annually to buy plants and had purchased more than 10 since the morning, especially after Hurricane Melissa caused some damage to her garden.

Palmer Cross also argued that horticulture can help with wider social concerns, including mental health, crime and violence. She said small green spaces can give people a place to relax, reconnect with nature and find calm.

She said that is among the reasons she wants the property developed as part of a health renewal space where people can enjoy the surroundings. The Manchester Horticultural Society was founded in 1865 and is described as the oldest such society in the Caribbean.